Victoria Udoh, Programme Coordinator, Centre for Leadership Strategic Development (Centre – LSD) has called for a joint and collaborative efforts among relevant stakeholders to help end Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
Udoh emphasized that ending SGBV is a collective work among the stakeholder; traditional rulers, religious leaders, group leaders and the civil service.
Speaking during a review meeting on “Taking Action” to End Violence Against Women & Girls and Harmful Practices organized by Centre LSD under the Joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative project
Udoh who noted that COVID-19 lockdown exacerbated cases of sexual and gender based violence stressed that communal response would have prevented most of the cases.
She also commended the traditional rulers that have created platforms in their communities to tackle SGBV case.
“I am happy that the Baales are taking the initiative and are setting up platforms in their communities, we hope that these platforms are sustained and the people are motivated in the community and we look forward for a saner society,” she explained.
Speaking with one of the traditional leaders in the community, Chief Francis Adetayo Ogunbanjo, the Akin Ilu of Iwaya-Yaba, said they were not enlightened about steps to take to address cases of Domestic Violence but the intervention of Centre-LSD equipped them with necessary steps which has been yielding positive results.
He also called for support from to NGOs with the aim of addressing the scourge of DV.
Sharing experiences of impact, Pastor Abayomi, CDC Chairman of Igbogbo, Ikorodu, said he has been engaging the religious community to end GBV.
“Centre LSD has brought a lot of innovation and I’ve had to engage church members on the need not to perpetuate sexual and gender based violence.”
Also speaking, Bakare Oladare, Youth Leader in Ikorodu explained how he has engaged men in the community to join the campaign against ending SGBV.
Chukwunonso Ibegwam, Programs Lead, ATLAS initiative who supported with the mobilization of community stakeholders towards eradicating SGBV, also explained that if the efforts are replicated in various communities, SGBV cases will be a forgotten issue.